Interactive toy package

ABSTRACT

A battery-operated mobile toy vehicle is mounted for movement within a compartment of an interactive package. A switch having a depressable portion extends through a cover of the package. A flexible conductor connected to the switch and to the toy vehicle is operative for conducting electrical energy between the switch and the toy vehicle and for causing the toy vehicle to move within the compartment when the depressable portion is depressed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging and, more particularly, to interactive packaging for displaying battery-operated toys, and for allowing consumers to interact with the toys while they remain packaged.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Blister packaging is commonly used to contain and display a variety of products, typically suspended from a hanger rod in a store. The blister package usually includes a front transparent plastic cover, which is bonded by an adhesive or a heat weld to a flat cardboard backing. The cover is typically made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and shaped to conform to a front portion of the product, and the product is effectively immobilized within the package between the backing and the overlaid and conforming cover. The backing provides a printable surface onto which product identification and operational instructions may be applied and easily viewed.

The blister packaging completely encloses the product, making it impossible for the consumer to touch, operate, or otherwise test the product without first destroying the packaging. When the product is a toy, and the consumer is a child, the inability to access and try the toy is particularly vexing and may cause the consumer not to purchase the toy.

Certain types of “try-me” interactive packaging have been developed which allow consumers to touch or test a packaged product without removing the product from the package. Interactive packaging is any package that contains an article of manufacture and also provides some access to the product so that a consumer may handle and/or operate the product without opening or otherwise separating the product from its package. Even limited “hands on” interaction between the product and a potential consumer can be a selling advantage.

To allow a consumer to handle and operate the product within its package, a portion of the product itself extends through an access opening formed through the cover. For example, one handle of a pair of packaged scissors can extend outwardly of the cover to allow a consumer to operate the scissors. Frequently, in the case of a battery-operated product, the extending product portion is typically a switch that, when depressed, closes an electrical circuit and causes some component of the product to be energized, for example, lights can be flashed, or sounds can be generated.

However, even so, the snugly-fitting cover keeps the battery-operated product immobilized within the package, even as a consumer depresses the switch. Some toys, such as toy vehicles, are better displayed if they are permitted to move within the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive package for a mobile toy that not only protects the toy, but also gives a consumer controlled access to the toy to move the toy, while the toy remains packaged.

The interactive package is a blister-type package which includes a backing, preferably a panel constituted of a sheet material such as cardboard; and a cover overlying the backing and defining a compartment. The cover is preferably constituted of a light-transmissive material, such as transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a battery-operated mobile toy, such as a toy vehicle having wheels, is mounted within the compartment for movement. A switch, such as a momentary action switch, having a depressable portion extends through the cover. A conductor, preferably a flexible cable, has one end connected to the switch and another end connected to the toy. The conductor is operative for conducting electrical energy between the switch and the toy and for causing the toy to move within the compartment when the depressable portion is depressed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a track is arranged in a loop within the compartment, and the toy is movable along the track when the depressable portion is depressed. Preferably, the toy has a magnet facing the track, and the track has an embedded metal material magnetically attracted to the magnet. A guide is mounted on the backing and extends into the compartment. The toy is guided around the guide during movement of the toy.

Thus, the package, according to the invention, provides the benefit of allowing a consumer to move the toy along a track in a controlled and momentary manner within the compartment, while at the same time protecting the toy from theft or vandalism.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package containing a mobile toy, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the package, taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing the movement of the toy, according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the package, taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, showing the magnetic interaction between the toy and the track, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally identifies a blister-type package which includes a backing 12, preferably a rectangular panel constituted of a sheet material such as cardboard; and a rounded box-like hollow cover 14 overlying the backing 12 and defining a compartment 16. The cover 14 is preferably molded of a light-transmissive material, such as transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has a peripheral flange 18 bonded to the backing 12 by such techniques as adhesion, stapling, and/or heat welding.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a battery-operated mobile toy, such as a toy vehicle 20 having wheels 22, is mounted within the compartment 16 for movement. A switch, such as a momentary action switch 24, having a depressable portion 26 extends through the cover 14. A conductor, preferably a flexible cable 28, has one end connected to the switch 24 and another end connected to the toy 20. The conductor 28 is operative for conducting electrical energy between the switch 24 and the toy 20 and for causing the toy 20 to move, as depicted by the phantom lines in FIG. 2, within the compartment 16 when the depressable portion 26 is depressed. The conductor 28 remains tethered to the toy 20 throughout its movement, and the conductor flexes to accommodate such movement.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a track 30 is arranged in a loop within the compartment 16, and the toy 20 is movable along the track 30 when the depressable portion 26 is depressed. Preferably, as best seen in FIG. 3, the toy 20 has a magnet 32 facing the track 30, and the track 30 has an embedded metal material 34 magnetically attracted to the magnet 32. This magnetic attraction assures that the toy will stay on the track 30, even when the toy is upside down or going up and down the generally vertical parts of the track 30. A guide 36 is mounted on the backing 12 and extends into the compartment 16. The toy 20 is guided around the guide 36 during movement of the toy 20.

Thus, the package 10, according to the invention, provides the benefit of allowing a consumer to move the toy 20 along a track 30 in a controlled and momentary manner within the compartment 16, while at the same time protecting the toy 20 from theft or vandalism.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as a mobile toy in a blister package, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 

1. An interactive package, comprising: a backing; a cover overlying the backing and defining a compartment; a battery-operated mobile toy mounted within the compartment for movement; a switch having a depressable portion extending through the cover; and a conductor having one end connected to the switch and another end connected to the toy, the conductor being operative for conducting electrical energy between the switch and the toy and for causing the toy to move within the compartment when the depressable portion is depressed.
 2. The interactive package according to claim 1, wherein the backing is a panel constituted of a sheet material.
 3. The interactive package according to claim 1, wherein the cover is constituted of a light-transmissive material.
 4. The interactive package according to claim 1, wherein the toy is a toy vehicle having wheels.
 5. The interactive package according to claim 1, and a track arranged in a loop within the compartment, and wherein the toy is movable along the track when the depressable portion is depressed.
 6. The interactive package according to claim 5, wherein the toy has a magnet facing the track, and wherein the track has an embedded metal material magnetically attracted to the magnet.
 7. The interactive package according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a momentary action switch.
 8. The interactive package according to claim 1, wherein the conductor is a flexible cable that moves as the toy moves.
 9. The interactive package according to claim 1, and a guide mounted on the backing and extending into the compartment, and wherein the toy is guided around the guide during movement of the toy.
 10. An interactive package, comprising: backing means; cover means overlying the backing means and defining a compartment; battery-operated mobile toy means mounted within the compartment for movement; switch means having a depressable portion extending through the cover means; and conductor means having one end connected to the switch means and another end connected to the toy means, the conductor means being operative for conducting electrical energy between the switch means and the toy means and for causing the toy means to move within the compartment when the depressable portion is depressed.
 11. The interactive package according to claim 10, wherein the backing means includes a panel constituted of a sheet material.
 12. The interactive package according to claim 10, wherein the cover means is constituted of a light-transmissive material.
 13. The interactive package according to claim 10, wherein the toy means includes a toy vehicle having wheels.
 14. The interactive package according to claim 10, and track means arranged in a loop within the compartment, and wherein the toy means is movable along the track means when the depressable portion is depressed.
 15. The interactive package according to claim 14, wherein the toy means has a magnet facing the track means, and wherein the track means has an embedded metal material magnetically attracted to the magnet.
 16. The interactive package according to claim 10, wherein the switch means is a momentary action switch.
 17. The interactive package according to claim 10, wherein the conductor means is a flexible cable that moves as the toy means moves.
 18. The interactive package according to claim 10, and guide means mounted on the backing means and extending into the compartment, and wherein the toy means is guided around the guide means during movement of the toy means. 